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Dublin's Most Expensive Homes

December 02, 2013

As Ireland’s most prominent city and one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations, Dublin sees more than its fair share of wealthy people looking for somewhere beautiful to live. In this article we’ll look at some of the most spectacular and expensive properties in Dublin, ensuring you know where to start if you’re ever lucky enough to win the Euro Millions draw! Sorrento House It seems fitting to start with what is officially one of the most expensive houses in Dublin; Sorrento House. Located on Dalkey’s Sorrento Terrace – the gleaming row of eight waterfront homes that has come to represent the hottest stretch of real estate in Dublin – Sorrento House made the news back in 1998 when millionaire entrepreneur Terry Coleman secured the property for an incredible £5.9million (€7.5million), making it the highest price ever paid at auction for a Dublin property. Coleman spent an incredible €13million upgrading and extending the property, and has now put it back on the market for €12million (yes, that doesn’t seem like the best business, but a previous attempt to sell the property for €30million back in 2006 saw no takers). The house has six bedrooms spread over four-storeys, and boasts a cinema room, numerous balconies overlooking spectacular views of Killiney Bay, floors of Jerusalem marble and even a cocktail bar located in a beautiful sun room. Walford Despite the Sorrento House price tag, it lost the title of ‘Dublin’s most expensive home’ earlier this year, when Walford – an exclusive Tudor-style Edwardian red brick located on Shrewsbury Road – sold for an incredible €14million. The price may seem eye-wateringly high, but it’s nothing compared to the €58million it reached back in 2005, when it was purchased by the wife of the famous property developer Sean Dunne. Ironically, after spending the GDP of a small country on the house, Mr Dunne moved to the United States and declared himself bankrupt, leaving this spectacular property vacant. Fancy a tour of Dublin’s most expensive house? Click here for a video from the Irish Times back in 2011 Marflfield Another property on the famous Shrewsbury Road, Marlfield – formerly known as ‘Carahor’ – is a tudor-style turn-of-the-century property designed by the renowned architect Richard C. Orpen (one of three designed by Orpen on Shrewsbury Road): The house was purchased in 1993 by David McCann, CEO of Fyffe’s. The purchase price wasn’t disclosed, and the family have remained in residence for the last 20 years (not even trying to cash in when the Walford property was sold). Despite this, given the price tag of its neighbour, the prestige of the address, the 0.7 acre site and the 3,982 square foot of property, we can safely assume that Marfield easily sits on the list of Dublin’s most expensive properties. Kilross Cottage Kilross Cottage sits on the beautiful Sorrento Road, and was once owned by the world famous Eddie Irvine. The ultimate bachelor pad, Kilross Cottage is located within the uber-exclusive Monte Alverno enclave and is owned by businessman Dave Cullen, who reportedly paid €5million for the property back in 2004. Considering the property features a 6 metre indoor pool (which leads to a 23 metre heated outdoor pool), a sauna, home cinema, games room with inbuilt bar, dining room accommodating up to 20 people, a home office, sea views and a 4-person Jacuzzi, it’s somewhat surprising to learn that this beautiful home has only one bedroom (hence the title of ‘ultimate bachelor pad’). If you’re an eligible single with more money than you know what to do with, then you may be interested to learn that the property recently came onto the rental market, with an incredible €7,000 per month asking price. Barrington Tower Sold in 2005, Barrington Tower made headlines across Ireland and the UK after it was sold at auction for an incredible €36million, which was well over the €22million ‘on the market’ price given to it by the agents (who had previously given it a guide price of €15million). Located at Brennanstown Road, Carrickmines, the period residence sits on an 8.6 acre site – one of the main reasons for the staggeringly high price paid for the property. The site was bought by Bill Doyle, who made the purchase in trust with reneging developer Eugene O’Neill (who was later bought out of the partnership). In early 2007 Mr Doyle submitted plans for a €230million residential development featuring 25 detached houses, 12 semis, 6 terraced houses and 109 apartments. Belmont Yet another property on the exclusive Shrewsbury Road, Belmont is home to billionaire telecoms mogul Denis O’Brien and another house designed and built by renowned architect Richard C. Orpen. Originally known as ‘Hawthorn’, this 7850 square foot property was bought by Mr O’Brien in 2005 for a sum in the region of €30million – making it the third most expensive property sold that year, after the aforementioned Barrington Tower (€36m) and Walford (€58m). So that’s it for our list of Dublin’s most expensive homes – it’s by no means exhaustive, but it does feature some of our favourites and certainly some of the biggest sale prices our fair city has ever seen. Do you live near a ridiculously priced home? Got an eye-wateringly expensive property we’ve missed that you think should make the list? Let us know in the comments below and we’d be more than happy to cast a somewhat envious eye over the property and include it in a future post.

Susan is super passionate about hotels and in a past life was a travel writer and hotel critic. As a Dublin native she also loves everything about the city and wants to share her knowledge on all the best bits.